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Vol.

I Issue 2 Saturday 12th September, 1959 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS SPEECH OF THE YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG ,_ [Col. 28] DRAFT STAND ING ORDERS, DE WAN RA'AYAT: Motion agreed to [Col. 35] COMMITTEE OF SELECTION: Motion agreed to [Col. 42] CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC ACCOU NTS COMMITTEE: Motion agreed to [Col. 46] PRINTED AT THE GOVERNME'>r PRESS BY B, T, FLOGE Kl!

:O....I A. Ll'MPlJR GOVERN�!�.l'r PRINTER 1959 Price: 50 cts.
FEDER ATION OF MALAYA DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) Official Report First Session of the First Dewan Ra'ayat Saturday, 12th September, 1959 The House met at 11.20 o'clock a.m.

PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Speaker.

DATO' HAJJ MOHAMED NOAH BIN OMAR, D.P.M.J ..

P.I.S., J.P. (Johore Bahru Timor).

the Prime Minister, Y.T.M.

TuNKU ABDUL RAHMAN PUTRA AL-HAJ, K.O.M.

(Kuala Kedah).

the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

(Pekan).

TUN ABDUL RAZAK BIN DATO' HUSSAIN, S.M.N.


the Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Commerce and I ndustry, DATO' DR. ISMAIL BIN DATO' ABDUL RAHMAN, P.M.N.

(Johore Timar).

the Minister of Health, DATO' V. T. SAMBANTHAN, P.M.N.

(Sungei Siput).

the Minister of the I nterior.

DATO' SULEIMAN BIN DATO' ABDUL RAHMAN, P.M.N.

(Muar Selatan).

the Minister of Works, Posts and Telecommunications, ENCHE' SARDON BIN HAJJ JUBIR (Pontian Utara).
the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, DATO' ONG YOKE LIN.

P.M.N.

(Ulu Selangor).

the Minister of Finance, MR. TAN SIEW SIN, J.P. (Malacca Tengah).

the Minister of Natural Resources, ENCHE' BAHAMAN BIN SAMSUDIN (Kuala Pilah).

the Minister of Transport.

ENCHE' ABDUL RAHMAN BIN HAJJ TALIB (Kuantan).

ENCHE' ABDUL GHANI BIN ISHAK ( Malacca Utara).

ENCHE' ABDUL HAMID KHAN BIN HAJJ SAKHAWAT ALI KHAN, J.M.N., J.P. ( Batang Padang).

TUAN HAn ABDUL KHALID BIN AwANG OSMAN (Kota Star Utara).
ENCHE' ABDUL RAUF BIN A. RAHMAN (Krian Laut).

ENCHE' ABDUL SAMAD BIN OSMAN (Sungei Patani).

TUAN HAJJ ABDULLAH BIN HAJJ ABDUL RAOF (Kuala Kangsar).

12 SEPTEMBER 1959 24 The Honourable TUAN HAJI ABDULLAH BIN HAJI MOHD.

SALLEH (Segamat Utara).

TUAN HAJJ AHMAD BIN A BDULLAH (Kota Bharu Hilir).

ENCHE' AHMAD BIN ARSHAD (Muar Utara).

ENCHE' AHMAD BOESTAMAM (Setapak).

ENCHE' AHMAD BIN MOHAMED SHAH (Joh ore Bahru Baral).

TUAN HAJI AHMAD BIN SAAID (Seberang Utara).


ENCHE' AHMAD BIN HAJI YusoF (Krian D arat) .

.

TUAN HAJI AZAHAR!

BIN HAJI IBRAHIM (Kubang Pasu Barat}. "

ENCi-iE' Aziz BIN I SHAK (Muar Dalam).

DR. BURHANUDDIN BIN MoI-lD.

NOOR (Besut).

MR. CHAN CHONG \VEN (Kluang Selatan).

MR. CHAN SrANG SUN (Bentong).

MR. CHIN SEE YIN (Seremban Timor).

MR. V. DAVID (Bungsar).

DATIN FATIMAH RJNTI H AJI HASHIM, P.M.N.

(Jitra-Padang Terap).

MR. GEH CHONG KEAT (Penang Utara).

ENCHE' HAMZAH BIN ALANG (K apar).


ENCHE' HANAFI BIN MOHD.

YuNus (Kulim Utara).

ENCI-IE' HARUN BIN ABDULLAH (Baling).

ENCJIE' HARUN BIN P1Lus (Trengganu Tengah).

TUAN HAJI HASAN ADU BIN HAJI ARSHAD (Kuala Trengganu Utara).

TUAN HAH HASSAN BIN H AJI AHMAD (Tum pat).

ENCHE' HASSAN BIN MANSOR (Malacca Selatan).

ENCHE' HUSSEIN BIN TOH MUDA HASSAN (Raub).

ENCIIE' HUSSEIN BIN MOHD.

NOORDIN (Parit).

ENCI-fE' IBRAHIM BIN ABDUL RAHMAN (Seberang Tengah).

ENCIIE' ISMAIL BIN IDRIS (Penang Selatan).


MR. KANG KoK SENG (Batu Pahat).

MR. K. KARAM SINGH (Damansara).

CHE' KHADIJAH BINTI MOHD.

SIDIK (D ungun).

MR. LEE SAN CHOON (Kluang Utara).

MR. LEE SECK FuN (Tanjong Malim).

MR. LEE SIOK YEW (Sepang).

MR. LEONG KEE NYEAN (Kampar).

MR. LIM Joo Ko'.

'IG (Alor Star).

MR. LIM KLAN SIEW (Dato Kramat).

DR. LIM SWEE AuN, J.P. (Larut Selatan).

25 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 26 The H onourable MR. Liu Y ooNG PENG (Rawang).

MR. T. MA HIMA SINGH (Port Dickson).


ENCHE' MOHAM ED BIN UJANG (Jelebu-Jempol).

ENCHE' MOHAM ED ABBAS BIN AHMAD (Hilir Perak).

ENCHE' MOHAMED AsRI BIN HAJJ MuDA (Pasir Puteh).

ENCHE' MOHAMED DAHARJ BIN HAJI Mo HD.

ALI (Kuala Selangor).

ENCHE' MOHAMED NOR BIN MO HD.

DAHAN (Ul u Perak).

DATO' MOHAMED HANIFAH BIN HAJJ ABDUL GHANI (Pasir Mas H ulu).

ENCHE' MOHAMED SULONG BIN MOHD.

ALI, J.M.N.

(Lipis).

ENCHE' MOHAMED YusoF BIN MAHMUD, A.M.N.

(Temerloh).
(Temerloh).

TUAN HAJI MoKHTAR BIN HAJI ISMAIL (Perlis Selatan).

NIK MAN BIN NIK MOHAMED (Pasir Mas Hilir).

MR. NG ANN TECK (Batu).

DATO' ONN BIN JAAFAR, D.K., D.P.M.J.

(Kuala Trengganu Selatan).

ENCHE' OTHMAN BIN ABDULLAH (Perlis Utara).

MR. QuEK KAI D O NG (Seremban Barat).

TUAN HAJI REDZA BIN HAn Memo.

SAID (Rembau-Tampin).

MR. SEAH TENG NGIAR (Muar Pantai).

TUAN SYED EsA BIN ALWEE, S.M.J., P.I.S.

(Batu Pahat Dalam).

TUAN SYED HASHIM BIN SYED AJAM (Sabak Bernam).


TUAN SYED JA'AFAR BIN HASAN ALBAR, J.M.N.

(Johore Tenggara).

ENCHE' TAJUDIN BIN ALI (Larut Utara).

MR. TAN CHENG BEE, J.P. (Bagan).

MR. TAN PHOCK KIN (Tanjong).

MR. TAN TYE CHEK (Kulim-Bandar Bahru).

TENGKU INDRA PETRA BIN SULTAN IBRAHIM (Ulu Kelantan).

DATO' TEOH CHZE CHONG.

D.P.M.J., J.P. (Segamat Selatan).

MR. V. VEERAPPEN (Seberang Selatan).

WAN MusTAPHA BIN HAn ALI (Kelantan Hilir).

WAN SuLAIMAN BIN WAN TAM (Kota Star Selatan).


WAN y AHYA BIN HAJI WAN MOHAMED (Kemaman).

MR.

Woo SAIK HONG (Telok Anson).

ENCHE' YAHYA BIN HAJI AHMAD (Bagan Datoh).

MR. YEOH TAT BENG (Bruas).

tv1R.

YONG Woo MING (Sitiawan).

27 12 SEPTEMBER 1 95 9 The Honourable HAJAH ZAIN BINTI SULAIMAN (Pontian Sdatan).

TUAN H AJJ ZAKARIA BIN HAJI MOHD.

TAIR (Langat 1.

ENCHE' ZULKIFLEE BIN M UHAMMA D (Bachok).


The Honourable the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Education, ENCHE' ABDUL AZIZ BIN ISHAK (Kuala Langat).

ABSENT: MR. CHAN SWEE Ho (Ulu Kinta).

MR. CHEAH THEAM SWEE (Bukit Bintang).

TUAN HAJI HusSIN RAIIIMI BIN HAJI SAMAN (Kota Bharu Hulu).

MR. K HONG KoK Y AT (Batu Gajah).

MR. v. MANICKA\'ASAGAM, J.M.N., P.J.K.

(Klang).

ENCHE' M OHAM E D ISMAIL BIN MOHD.

YusoF (Jerai >.

ENCHE' OTHMAN RIN ABDULLAH (Tanah Merah).

MR. D. R. SEENIYASAGAM (lpoh).


MR. S. P. SEENIVASAGAM (Menglembu).

MR. TAN Kn: GAK (Bandar Malacca).

PRAYERS (Mr. Speaker in the Chair) ANNOUNCEMENT Mr. Speaker (Translated from Mala_v): Honourable Members, before we proceed to the business in the Order Paper, I would like to inform the House that after my election as Speaker yesterday morning, I was received in audience by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the afternoon.
SPEECH OF THE Y A�G DI-PERTUAN AGOl'G Mr. Speaker (Translated from Malay): Honourable Members, l would like to inform the House that His Majesty has this day been pleased to address Parliament.

For greater accu­ racy I have obtained a copy of His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech.

which I now direct formally to be laid on the Table of this House.

l further direct that the Speech be printed and included in the Parliamentary Debates.
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of Parliament, Less than two lveeks ago We spoke to the nation on th<:' occasion 1Jf the second anniversary of our M erdeka, the day of freedom for the Federation of Malaya.

We told Our people then that shortly it 1vould be Our duty to take part in an historic occasion for our country-the opening of our tl<:'H' Parh<J.ment.

the i·ery c-rolvn and climax of our Constitution.


Yesterday all of you were sworn in as members of one house - either the D e-..wm Negara or the DeHJan Ra'ayat�-and suhsequentl_v you ei<:'cted.

in separate meetings, th<:' President of the Senate and the Speak.er of the House of Representatives.

Now th<:' time has come for Us as the Sovereign Ruler of rfzis 1uttio11 attend in this place.
and lt"ith all the ceremonial dignity of Our high office formally to estahlish for all time and for all men the Parliumcm uf the Fe<i<:'ration of Malaya, H'hiclz We.

b_v and the Seal of th<:' Federation, h<ffe summoned.

Proclamation under our Sign-111(/li!W!


f<J 29 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 30 It is not Our intention here to-day to make what has traditionally become known as the Speech from the Throne, the formal statement of the future policies and objectives of Our Governm�nt, the presence of all speech at the opemng of the Budget sesswn of Parliament in November.

made by us as Head of State in .

mem bers of the Legt�lat1ve Authority.

We ·will make that .


It is Our intention here tc:-day _to focus the attention and the interest of .

Our people on the lasting natwnal unportance of this event in which H'e are now all taking part.

Before W e do this We H'ish to say that this particular place of assembly of the elecled representatives of Our people has a personal significance for u;, and by natural implication a special significance for all Malayans.
For it lt'as in this building, in another form and in another place, and at a time of great national rejoicing that W e were enthroned and took the Oath of Office as �he first Sovereign of ou� new State, de_claring that We _lvotdd justly and fatthfully perform Our duties as Y ang dz-Pertuan Agong uz the just Governnzent of the Federation of Malaya in accordance lvith frs Constitution.
laws and And it was in this place, too, that on another momentous occasion W l' exercised Our royal prerogative under our Constitution to grant honours and themseli·es in the awards to rnany men and H'o1nen who had distinguished service of our country.

It seems that this nohle hall, .the setting not onl_v for royal occasions hut importance, both grave and gay.

this is a place of for events of international destiny in the story of our nation.
Is it not most fitting, therefore, and is it not a good omen for our future that in this place of destiny We, the Head of State, should of all Our people at this ceremony which is without question destiny for all Malayans?

preside in the name t of a 1110111e11 A feH/ moments ago We referred to Our public comment I hat the estahlislz­ ment of this Parliament was the crml'l1 and climax of our Constitution: fact, it is the very essence.
in It is the crmvn because under our Constitution the Legislatii'e Authority of the Federation is \'ested in Parliament, �vhich consists of Oursefres as Yang di-Pertuan Agong and two Houses representing the people.

It is the climax because H'ith the establishment of Parlia111em I he Con­ stitution of our country is given full effect for the first tirne.
To state this as u fact is simplicity itself, bllt h<!hind t lzis fact we in M alaya to-day can look back on _vears of effort, years of resol\'e, years of patience.

The Constitution achievement of the highest order.
of the Federation of Malaya is in itself a democratic It is the product of many minds i1'·orking with a com m on aim, to evofre for this new Malayan nation of ours-a charter drmvn from a basic charter and way our past experience and suited to the conditions of our 'surroundings of life-a charter of our firm faith in the concepts and traditions of parliamentary democrac_v-and finally, and most important of all, a charter of our comm on belief that certain fundamental liberties are essential to the dignity and self­ respect of man.
Thl'se fundamental liberties are written into our Constitution.

The\· include tlze liberty and equcl!ity of persons under the law, the basic freedom ;Jf speech and freedom of worship.

The Constitution of the Federation and 111akes Malay the official language.

proclaims Islam as rhe official religion 31 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 32 The Constitution assures the right to our subjects to ·worship in their own religions and to preserve their own languages and culture.
It also confers citizenship on a wide category of persons who are prepared to mak<:' the Federation their honze and the object of their loyalty.

This Constitution, unique in many ways, is a comprehensive declaration of duties and responsibilities, the State and all citizens which will guide authority us through the unknown future.

of the land.
of the land.

In more symbolic terms it is the compass and prerogatives, affecting all organs of In general, this Constitution vests Our office of Yang di-Pertuan A gong as the maker of our laws; preserves with executive authority on the advice of our Government; establishes Parliament Brother-Rulers; defines various States of our united nation; provides for amendment of the Constitution should this be found necessary; our democracy.

In the people.
In the people.

in and asserts the electoral this way it ensures that the voice of the people is the will of the status and dignity of Our Government and of the the powers of the Federation rights of citizens In particular, this Constitution protects the integrity, Courts and our Judges and our Law Officers Comrnissions In this way it ensures the securit_v, of the Public Service, responsible the freedom from influence, integrity is the guardian of the rule of lmv.
It and the independence and the Members of our various of our for appointments and discipline.

and impartiality of the Civil Service.

The Constitution belongs to all of us-it belongs to Us as the Yang di-Pertuan to the people as the fount of power.

Agong, it belonrts to you as the Mflnhers of Parliament.

it belongs The Prime Minister, the members of his Cabinet, the Senators and the Members of the House of Representatives faith and allegiance prote ct and defend its Constitution.
to the Federation of Malaya and that they i1:ill preserve.

have all sworn that they bl!ar true Therefore, We wish all Our subjects on this historic understand rights and liberties, establishment our nation.

that the Constitution of the Federation is now.

finally and completely, of this Parliament under the Constitution, dav to knmv and of Malaya, our charter of in operation and n·ith the a new era begins for It is Our earnest hope that as many as possible of Our subjects l'llrly opportunity th<!
powers and procedure of our Parliament.

to make themselves familiar ·with our Constitution, will take and li'ith �Ve mentioned earlier of this Parliament principles of parliamentary the newest link in the chain of developments of the parliamentary ideal.

establishment that we in Malaya had dedicated ourselves democracy.

The to the is Centuries of thought and experience have contributed to the evolution of These may be reduced to three main characteristics.

s_vstem.
s_vstem.

the parlimnentary The first is that laws rnust be made by a legislature citizens executive The third is that there must exist in the State ivhat is commonly known as the "rule of law".

A 11 these characteristics of persons elected by by means of secret ballot.

The second is that the must answer to the elected legislature.

apply in the Federatimz of Malaya to-day.


at regular intervals authority ivc would like to recall at this point the declaration made h_v the first Prime Minister of the Federation, Tunku Ahdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, when he mo-vl'd the second reading of the Federal Constitution Bill in the days im m ediately bl'fore our lndepc11dc11cc.

as Chief Minister 33 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 34 Speaking in the Federal Legislativ e Council, only sixteen days before Merdeka.
he said:�"/t nwst be remernhered that the freedom to H'fzich H'e as pire is the freedom to go�·ern ourselves Uf!der a system in which parliamentary institutions shall be exclus1vely representative of the people's will".

That declaration is now a real�ty .

Two years ago we in Malaya had fought .

and ·won by peaceful and �onst1tut10nal means the struggle to attain our independence.

We ha11e n·ery nght to be proud of the way in which this was done.
Now, two years later, m oving again in th� ways of peace, climbing steadily .

step by step along the path of a Con�t1tut1on M alaya have now reachN � a n�w summit of nat1_onal acluevement by deciding the type of independence zn whtch we choose to ltve.

We have every right to be proud of the WO)' this has been done.

of our ?wn devising, we in .

From this sunzm it H'e can look tw o ways.

We can look back across many centuries which disappear in the darkness of time and legend.
We knm-v that all those countless years of the past, all those unnumbered millions of people who lived before us in this land, are part of the Malayan story, and have helped to rnakl' us ivhat we are to-da_v al this turning-point in our history.

From this summit, too, we can look forward ivith greater hope and confidence, surer faith and understanding, us, which in itself disappl'ars into the brightness of a future as yet unrecorded.
to the imrnediate prospect before The events which are being cornmenwrated of the Malayan state are not designed for ourselves The reason lvhv we arc all assem bled here is to do honour to an historic occasion of tre1;1endous here to-day with all the honours alone in our own times.

S�"tnificance for our future.

We are pulling a sw itch which starts two d_vnamos of dem ocracy- our of this nelt-' and our Parliament-to serve the political needs Constitution now and of generations of Malayans not yet born.
nation It is Our hope that historians of the future lvlw look back on these ei·cnts will record that what wc have don{:' in Malaya to-day we have done w ell.

Therefore, il'e urge all of you, the members of this new Parliament of ours, as /aw-makers in the highest spirit of always to approach your deliberations dedicated service to our nation.

We urge that your bearing should be related to the importance of your tasks and consonant with the dignity of the House.
W <:' urge you always to remember that you are the representatives of and that •vhat you do here shall be done for all the people the benefit of all the people.

without exception, We urge }'Oll to conduct your affairs in such a way that the Parliament of the Federation of Malaya will be a shining beacon of denw cracy at its brightest and best.

Fronz this day onwards, this Parliament of ours will be the centre of national attention for all Malayans wherever they may be.
The progress of this Parliament will be "lvatched not by Malayans alone.

We are sure that throughout the free tt·orld where parliam entary institutions are the guardians of democracy the future of this Parliament with keen interest and goodwill.

will he followed We have no doubts a t all that you H'ill bring a health_v Malayan outlook to our affairs at home and abroad, and in doing so demonstrate to all men that.

even though ours is a small nation, our Parliament and a distinguished role.
can play both a distincti1·c 35 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 36 Mav vour dt'cisions achil'\'e1;1e;zts of all Malayans.

May you assure peace, prosperi(v and justice for all our subjects.

ht' wise and just, your ideas constructire.

and your and ref.

{ard win and keep the respect noble.

Ma_v your Parliament !I/Jay your debates in this House be carried out in the true traditions of Parliament.
It is Our earnest hope and desire that however hard your feelings may he on any particular subject or matter which is brought up in this House for discussion that you will adhere strictly to the Standing Orders and to the principles of parliamentary democrac.v.

May you shmv respect for one another and for each other's opinhms, even opposed.
It is Our expectation that though your views may be diametrically Honourable Members will fiRht their battles in this House on the hest of terms and in a spirit of goodwill for one another.

As you enter upon _your duties in this first Parliament, confident of fulfilling guide and keep you.
the high hopes in the hearts of Our people, may the blessings of God In particular, We ask the hlessing and the guidance of God for Our Prime Minister and the mem hers of his Cabinet, upon whom devolve the responsibility for direction and decision, for leadership and administration Our Goi·ernment.

of the policies of It is nmv Our great privilege as the Head of State in this third year of Our reign formally to declare, so that all men everyivhere may know.
the of the Parliament of the Federation of Malaya.

establish111ent, now and forei·er, DRAFT STANDING ORDERS, DEWAN RA'AYAT The Deputy Prime M inister (Tun Abdul Razak): In proposing the motion standing in my name I wish to apologise to Honourable Members for the fact that copies of the draft Standing Orders now before them have been circulated only at the eleventh hour.

This has been.

I am afraid, inevitable work and events.


The principle which we have adopted in this particular matter is that it is essential that there should be some rules regulating pro­ cedure available to us in this Chamber as soon as possible.

Whether these acceptable to this rules arc all fully House is a matter we can attend to at our leisure.

owing to pressure of Now the Standing Rules and Orders Council of the Federal Legislative adopted.
as amended from time to time, continued to operate until the dissolution itself, earlier this yeac but with the establishment of Parliament, and the creation of two Majlis.

or Houses, it clearly became necessary to review the position.

of the Legislative Council Such a review can, of course, only properly be made by a Committee of this House: for by Article 62 of the Constitution this House is em­ powered.

subject to the Constitution and federal law, to regulate its own procedure.
Rules there must be, if the business of this House is to be conducted with efficiency, courtesy and despatch: and it is for this reason that these draft Orders are now laid before Honourable Members.

I think, Sir, that it is essential for me to emphasise that in the prepara­ tion of the draft Standing Orders now before the House the Standing Rules and Orders of the former Legislative Council have been used as a model.
These Standing Rules and Orders were in fact reviewed, before Merdeka, by Mr. D. W. S. Lidderdale, the Fourth Clerk to the United Kingdom House of Commons.

and in fact a number of proposals put forward by him, and arising out of practice in the former Leg i s I a t i v e Council, have been embodied in the draft Orders.

These Orders were not, however.


appropriate to the circumstances of a 37 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 38 parliam ent with two Houses, and in been adapted to consequence they hav� _ conform to the prov1s10r:is ?f Chapter 4 of Part IV of the Con_st1tut1on, which, of course, only came rnto fore� upon t Leg1slat1ve of the las the dissoluti_on council.
Sm11lar Standmg Orders, com pl e m en t a r y to those bef<?re Honourable Members, are bemg in­ troduced now, I hope, into the Dewan of our Negara, so that the proce�dings _ two Houses will, for th� t1!11e bemg, be in harmony-at least, Sir, m the matter of procedure.

_ .
_ .

_ Secondly, on the matter of Bills, the draft Standing Orders follow Parlia­ mentary practice elsewhere, by pro­ Bills shall be introduced on viding that notice, read formally the first and then printed by order of the House : no debate on the second reading occurring until a Bill has been duly circulated to H o n o u r ab I c Members.

time.
time.

consisting Now there will no doubt be a number of points arising out of the draft Orders before the House, and I do not propose to deal with them in detail at this stage.

Honourable Mem­ bers will observe from the draft Standing Order 78, that the draft Orders propose that a Standing Orders Committee be established, of yourself, Sir, as Chairman, and six other members to be appointed by the Committee of Selection established under Standing Order 76.
If, as I trust, the draft Orders are adopted, then they will be referred to that Standing Orders Committee: and if any Honourable Members have any comments on the draft Orders.

then I would suggest that they should be referred to that Com­ mittee, where they can be considered at leisure and in detail; their origins can be studied, and there they can be compared with the best models of other Parliaments available to us.
I t may however be useful, Sir, both for members of that Committee and for Honourable Members of the House in general, if I mention several matters arising out of the draft Orders which appear to me to be of particular interest.

The first matter is one of a quorum of this House.

Now, our Constitution is, Sir, silent on the matter of a quorum, and in consequence it is up to this House to provide one.
The quorum of the old Legislative was one quarter of the total number of members, and it is proposed, by draft Standing Order 1 3, that the quorum of this House should also be one-quarter, that is to say, twenty-six members.

excluding the Chair.

Council Another important innovation lies in the composition of Committees of the House.
By virtue of draft Standing Order 82 it is proposed that every Select Committee of the House "shat I be so constituted as to ensure that so far as is practicable the balance between the parties within the H ouse is reflected in the Committee".

In this way it is hoped that Committees of the House will be in conformity with the political so assist the House in the more expeditious balance of the House, and of its business.

transaction One further matter of nomenclature.


Orders will pro­ The draft Standing hibit reference to any Honourable Member by name: a practice following that elsewhere.

I trust that Honourable Members will agree with me that reference to any Honourable Member by name is to be avoided wherever possible; reference to an Honourable Member's constituency sometimes require a considerable mental effort; and it is my hope, Sir.
that such an effort will cause us all to be less emotional and more logical in the debates that lie ahead of us.

does of course One final point, Sir, the last draft Order adopts the usages of the United Kingdom House of Commons, when­ ever no specific Order or practice exists here.
This enables us to take advantage-as did the former Legisla­ tive Council-of the various precedents evolved in parliamentary in the United Kingdom from the 15th Century onwards, and set out in such works as Sir Thomas Erskine May's famous treatise on "The Law.

Privi­ leges, Proceedings and Usage of I t is, I suggest.

a matter Parliament."


of convenience for us that we should choose to adopt the practice of the House of Commons in resolving diffi- government 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 40 cult points of procedure not covered by our own Orders or practice.

purely Malayan But of course, it is inevitable and indeed desirable that our own practice will develop along lines, and that as we continue to enlarge our own history and precedents we shall witness the evolution of proce­ dure with a purely Malayan idiom.
and peculiarly adapted to the needs of �rnr nation.

In the interim we may be content.

however, to profit by the experience of those who have faced similar problems of procedure in the past.

Yet.

Sir.

what matters is not really To accomplish that we of all, and it is.

I submit.

the Orders themselves as the spirit in which they are applied.

On you, Sir.

as Mr. Speaker.

falls the heaviest responsibility up to each one of us to render your difficult position as less onerous as we possibly can.
need to observe the principles which may be our Standing Orders summarised.

l think.

as rules of con­ duct: first.

that we speak only with moderation and a sense of respon­ sibility.

always show courtesy and a sense of fair play each to another.

I hope, Sir.

that all our proceedings here will be conducted with a sense of the high responsibility the people.

and second.

that we should and trust placed in us by behind to members by the Clerk to circulated the House.
be adopted as the Standing Orders of the House ad interim."

should like to add two small points: if adopted, the draft Orders should be regarded as taking effect from the end of to-day's business; further they should be studied in detail by the as soon as Standing Orders Committee.

possible.

I Sir.

1 beg to move.

l\1r.

Kang Kock Seng (Batu Pahat) from Malay): Sir, I beg to (Translated second the motion of the Honourable the Deputy Prime Minister.
Enc he' Zulkiflee Muhammad (Bachok) from Malay): Mr. Speaker.

(Translated Sir.

with your permission.

Sir.

I wish to make some observations on the Honourable the Deputy Prime Minis­ ter's motion.

We are glad to note that the Standing Orders before us will be � d studied by a Committee reviewed an in due course.

But, Sir.
But, Sir.

I refer to the speech of the Deputy Prime Minister in which he stated that fundamentally the Standing Orders now before us will apply and on matters in which the provision of the Standing Orders is not clear the practice of the English Parlia­ ment would be followed although our intention--and that our Standing Orders should in course of time.

acquire outlook with Malayan characteristics.

This is indeed plausible.


also the probability�-is a Federation I shall not weary Honourable Mem­ bers with further comment.

I f the draft Orders arc adopted, then they will be referred to the Standing Orders Com­ mittee.

So the adoptioi'-1 I propose is, as the motion indicates.

a purely temporary expedient.

pending the pro­ mulgation of Standing Orders recom­ mended by the Standing Orders Com­ mittee and adopted by this House.

In the interim I have.

however.


as Honourable Members will have observed, arranged for the printing of the draft Orders, and their submission to the House in what is, I hope, a convenient form.

I should add.

how­ ever.

that the printing was effected only and docs not imply for convenience.

that the draft form has any finality.

I therefore move.

Sir.

"That the of the Dewan Draft Standing Orders Ra'ayat.

copies of which have been Mr. Speaker, Sir.


I would like to take this opportunity to remind the Houst?

that while we adopt the proce­ dure of the English Parliament--­ although this is good in itself as the English have ha<l a long experience with a Parliamentary ment-we must not forget.

and I hope the Committee to be appointed will agree.
that in so doing we should not overlook the fact that in certain res­ pects this country has not progressed as rapidly as other countries which have not adopted this system.

system of Govern­ W elL Sir.

I rise here to ex press the hope that those entrusted with the responsibility Orders of the House w ill proceed with their task as speedily as possible.

That is all that I have to say.

to review the Standing 41 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 42 adoption.
and at that stage will have a full opportunity to debate, discuss and amend the Draft Standing Orders.

if necessary.

the House cati_on k Enche' Tajudin Ali (Larut Utara) (Translated from Ma{ay): _M r. Speaker.

, Sir.

the on a point of clanfi Honourable Mr. V. .

amc avasag!lm.

M who is on the Committee to consider the Standing Orders.

has, I learn, �cft for America, and smce the Standing Orders are required early, may I be enlightened, Sir.
if the Honourable Member will be back to Malaya as early as possible?

Thank you.

The Minister of Transport (Enche' Abdul Rahman Talib) (Translated from Malay): Mr. Speaker.

I wish to clarify that the Committee proposed_ to be set up is a Committee of S_elect10n \\'.hose function will be to appoint Co_mm1ttees of this House from time to time.

The Committee of Selection will appoint a Committee to consider the Draft Stand­ ing Orders.
_ Dato' Ono (Kuala Trengganu Sela­ the tan): Mr. Speaker, while � suppo rt _ motion of the Deputy Pnme Minister that the Draft Standing Orders of the Dewan Ra'ayat be adopted as the of the House ad Standing Orders interim, there is one point on which I am not clear.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that he would move at a later stage for the appointment of a Committee of Selection.
May I informed if it is the intention of the Government, when that Committee of Selection has finished its work and its Report is laid on the Table of this House, that the opportunity will be given to debate the Standing Orders as recommended by the Committee of Selection?

be Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Draft Standing Orders of the Dewan Ra'ayat, copies of which have been circulated to members by the Clerk to the House, be adopted as the Standing Orders of the House ad interim.
COMMITTEE OF SELECTION Tun Abdul Razak (Translated from Malay): Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That.

in pursuance of paragraph (2) of Standing Order 76, the following members, namely, The Deputy Prime Minister The Minister of Interior The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Mr. V. Manickavasagam Dr. Burhanuddin bin Mohamed Noor Enchc' Ahmad Bocstamam be elected as members of the Committee of Selection, under the Chairmanship of l\fr.

Speaker Order Sir, under Draft Standing No.


76, the House shall appoint a Committee of Selection to carry out the duties assigned to it by these Draft Standing Orders.

As soon as the appointment has been approved by the House, the Committee will be able to carry out its functions, the most important of which will be to appoint the Standing Orders Committee to review the Draft Standing Orders which were tabled this morning.

Sic I beg to move.
Sic I beg to move.

• Tun Abdul Razak: Mr. Speaker, in reply to the point made by the Honour­ able Member for Kuala Trengganu, I would like to assure the House that i n accordance with the procedure laid down in these Draft Standing Orders.

would be con­ these Orders themselves sidered by a Standina Orders Com- mittee .

to be nominated by the Committee of Selection which the House will be asked to appoint under the next motion standing in my name.
When the Standing Orders Committee has completc-:d its task.

the Report of that Committee.

together with its recommended draft Standina Orders : will be laid before this House fo1 b Tuan Syed Jaafar Albar (Johore Tenggara) (Translated from Malay): Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.

Dato' Onn (Translated from Malay): Mr. Speaker, in the Draft Standing Orders it is not clear that the Com­ mittee of Selection is vested with the power to co-opt any other Member.
As I received the Draft Orders only about a quarter of an hour ago, I hope the provision in that this Committee has the power to co-opt another Member could be indicated.

the Standing Orders 43 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 44 from Tun Abdul Razak (Translated Malay): Mr. Speaker, I myself have not been able to study the Draft Standing Orders I know, there is no power for a Com­ mittee of Selection to nominate or co-opt another member to be a member of the Committee.
and if a member of the Committee is going away for a few months, that is not satisfactory.

another member in his place, that member may have a lot of constructive to put forward.

So I therefore �upport the move that another stituted in his place.
in detail, but as far as If we substitute member be sub­ suggestions Dato' Onn: Mr. Speaker, on a point Mr. Speaker: Does the Honourable of procedure, if there is no such power given to the Committee of Selection, would it not be better to appoint another member in place of the Honourable Mr. Manickavasagam who, I understand, will be away from the country?

Member propose to move an amend­ ment?

Mr. Tan Phock Kin: Yes, Sir.

Mr. Speaker: Then you must submit your draft amendment to me.
Mr. V. David (Bungsar): On a point of clarification, Mr. Speaker, at least you can tell us when the Honourable Member is supposed to have left the country and when will he be expected to return from the United Nations meeting.

Honourable Tun Abdul Razak: Mr. Speaker, this Committee will have as many as six members as shown here i n the Orders of the Day.

The particular Member will only be away for three months and will be back.
The absence of one mem ber will not hamper the work of the Committee at all, as w e have got the other five members who can carry on the work.

This Committee will go on for some time, Sir, and I see no harm in letting him remain in this Committee as the other members of the Committee can carry on the work in his absence.

Mr. Chin See Yin (Seremban Timor): Mr. Speaker.

Sir, as 1 understand it, he is away and he has not taken his oath.

I do not consider he is yet a member of this House.
The Deputy Prime M inister: Mr. Speaker, Sir, before the Honourable Member moves an amendment, I think the Honourable Member is slightly under a misapprehension over this.

This Committee of Selection will not do the work of reviewing the draft Standing Orders; it is a Committee which will nominate members to the Standing Orders Committee and it is the Standing Orders Committee which will review these draft Standing Orders.
It is a separate Committee altogether which will be nominated bv this Com­ n�ittee of Selection.

view, the work of the Committee will not be hampered.

lt will be an entirely different Committee which will be given the task of reviewing these draft Standing Orders.

I hope that is clear.

That is " why, in our Mr. V. David (Bungsar): M r. the statement I find Speaker, Sir, from that the Honourable Mr. Manicka­ vasagam is indispensable.
As we know, Sir, we have I 04 Members and I think anyone of them could substitute for the Honourable Member whose name is stated in the motion.

Mr. Speaker: He has taken his oath.

Mr. Chin See Yin: Then I am sorry, Sir.

Mr. Tan Phock Kin (Tanjong): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to speak i n support o f changing a member o f this Committee.

From what I hear, I think that it is the feeling of this House that the Standing Orders pleted as quickly as possible.
1 believe that an Honourable Member just now suggested that we should finish the St<��ding Orders as quickly as possible, should be com­ Again, Sir, as far as the d raft Standing Orders are concerned, it is because we have not not satisfactory had the time to study them.

We appreciate what the Deputy Prime Minister stated that due to pressure of work he is unable to circulate these copies earlier.

However, accepting his statement, we have given full support to these Standing Orders.
but we feel that a meeting of the Committee be convened immediately to appoint a Standing Orders Committee and various other Comm ittees.

What w e 45 12 SEPTEMBER 1959 46 CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC AC COUNTS COMMIITEE .

step js VJ consider as an immediate substitute a new member .m place of the Honourable Mr. Mamckavasagam that a meeting of the Committee ��uld be convened as early .as possible to take action .
on the appo1:itments of various Committees, as the imp?rtanc:e of the Standing Orders Committee is very, very necessary for this Parliament.

Mr. Speaker: I must warn the Honourable Member that no Member can speak twice on any motion.

If a motion is put before the House he can only speak once.

If he wants to .

speak again, he must ask sion as the Speaker of the House.
my permis­ The Minister of Finance (Mr. Tan a Public Accounts Mr. Speaker, Sir, Honourable Siew Sin): Members will be aware that i n the past there has been Committee of the Legislature whose duty has been to examine and report on the accounts of the Federation.

Under the provisions of the Standing Orders which the House has just adopted, there is provision for appointment of a new Public Accounts Committee and it is my intention to propose the appointment of the chairman of this Committee.
the Mr. V. David: Mr. Speaker.

earlier I only spoke on a point of information.

Mr. Speaker: You did not say so.

There seems to be that is not so.

The purpose The Prime Minister: Sir, may I have your permission to clarify some of the points raised by Honourable Members.

There seems to be some misunder­ standing on the purpose of this Com­ mittee of Selection.
abroad an idea that the object of the Selection Committee is to draft Stand­ ing Orders; of this Committee your leadership, the various Com­ mittees required by the Standing Orders.

Therefore, whether he is absent or not, it does not make any difference to these draft Standing Orders and.

as has been mentioned earlier by the Deputy Prime Minister.

the fact that he is not here does not in any way obstruct the work of !he Committee in drafting these Standmg Orders.
is to select, under Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, That, in pursuance of paragraph (2) of Standing Order 76, the following mem bers.

namely, Before moving the motion standing in my name, I think I should explaiv to the House why the terms of my motion provide only for the election of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
Standing Order 77 of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Ra'ayat provides for the setting up of a Public Accounts Committee to carry out the in paragraph (1) of functions detailed that Order.

Paragraph (2) lays down that the composition of the Committee should be determined by the Com­ mittee of Selection which has just been constituted on the motion of my Honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister.
The same paragraph, how­ ever, provides should be elected by tl1e whole House and that is why this motion has been put down on the Order Paper this morning.

The Public Accounts Com­ mittee has a really important role to play in the affairs of our country.

It is in fact the watchdog__ of the Federa­ · tion's acco"unting pr9c;���e� apa ·�the methodsl)y-Whicli have those processes.

-been carried out.
-been carried out.

The powers of the eommfftee have probably been made very wide and it on any matter within its jurisdictio which it considers should be brought to the notice of this House.

can and should report that the chairman n The De puty Prime Minister The Minister of Interior The Minister of Labour and Social Sir, I move, Welfare Mr. V. Manickavasagam Dr. Burhanuddin bin Mohamed Noor Enchc' Ahmad Boestamam That, in pursuance of paragraph (2) of Standing Order 77, the Honourable Ench.
:' Abdul Hamid Khan bin Haji Sakhawat Ali Khan be appointed as chairman of the Public A ccounts Committee.

be elected as members of the Committee of Selection, under the chairmanship of Mr. Speaker.
Tuan Haji Abdul Khalid (Kota Sta� Utara) (Translated from Malay): Mr. 4 7 1 2 SEPTE1\1 BE R 1 95 9 4 8 Speaker, I second t h e m o t i o n. I t is a n appropriate mot i o n. I hope a nd p ray t h at w i th t h e g u i d a nce of the C h a i r ­ m a n, t h e H on o u rabl e Capta in A bd u l and H o n o urable M embers s h o uld not move beyond that.

Mr. David: I j us t m ad e a reference w h e n talk ing about accoun t s .
H a m i d K h a n, t h i s C o m m i ttee w o u l d be a b l e t o c o ntrol t h e fin a ncial affairs of o ur c o un t ry i n a m ore satisfactory m a n n e r .

M r. Speaker: That i s n ot before the H o u se .

I f y o u w i l l con fi n e yourself t o t h e moti o n o n l y I can a ll o w t h a t .

M r .

K. Karam Singh (Damansara): Mr. David: As fa r as t h i s motion M r .

Speaker, I w o u l d l ik e to speak o n t hi s m ot i on .
T h e H o n o u ra b l e M ini s te r of F in a nc e has m e n t ioned that t h e a p p o i n t m e n t of a c h a i r m a n of t h e P ub l i c Accou nts C o m m ittee i s a very i mporta n t role to l ook after the acco u n t i ng of the n ati o n. He has m e n ­ t i o ned t h a t t h i s Com m ittee w o u l d b e t h e watchdog o f t h e acco un t i n g p r o ­ c e s s e s i n t h i s c o u n try.
I woul d l i ke t o b r i n g t o t h e a t t e n t i o n a b l e H ou s e t h a t n o t o n l y m us t t h i s C o m m i t tee b e a watc h d og o f accou n t ­ i ng b u t a l s o b e a w a tchdog of the m oney of o u r peopl e .

m oney w h i c h h a s n o t been acco un ted for b ecau s e w e k n ow t h a t b e fore t h i s H o u s e met twe n t y-four m i ll i o n d o ll ars were u n ­ acco u n ted for.

V../e d o n o t k now w h a t h a s h ap p ened to t h a t m oney, where i t has g o n e .
So, M r .

Speaker, t h i s of t h i s H o n ou r ­ i mp o r ta n t rol e .

a s the H o n o u r ab l e M i ni s ter o f F i n a n ce h a s said, shou l d n o t o n l y be p l ayed i n b e i n g a watch­ d og of acco u n t i n g b u t a l s o be p layed i nto l oo k i n g for any m i sa p propr i a t i o n or l oss o f o u r people's m oney.

T h a n k you .
T h a n k you .

concern s t h e a pp o i n t m e n t of the C hair­ m a n of the C o� m i ttee w h o i s g o i n g t o safeguard p u b l i c funds a n d wher ever reference has to be made, S i r , I would l i ke to m ake reference so t h a t it w i l l be cl ear to M e m bers o f t hi s H o u s e. l\1r.

Speaker: I have a l ready ruled t h a t o u t .

Mr. David: T h a n k y o u.


Speak i n g a b o u t t h i s m o t i o n I fee l t h a t the m a n to be appoin te d f o r t h i s p o s t should be a most respon s i b l e man and he i s g o i n g t o check u p fre qu e n t l y t h e Heads of Departments w h e th e r t hey submit acc o u n t s for a ud i t .
From e x p e ri e n ce we h ave f o u n d t h a t H e a d s of Depart­ m e n ts have fai l ed to s u b m i t accoun t s i n p roper t i me f o r t h e A ud it o r - G eneral to present h i s A n nual R ep ort.

I b e li eve t h a t t h i s s t a te of affai rs w il l n o t con ­ t i n ue i n t h e f u tu re and t h a t t h e person w h o i s goi n g t o be a p p o i nted to-day w i l l b e a nswerab l e to the H ou s e at a l a t e r d ate.

Questi o n p u t a n d agreed to.

Resol v e d, Mr. David: M r .


S peaker, S i r, c a n I s pe a k?

J u s t n ow my colleague referred to the $ :24,000.000 w h i c h was n ot acc o u nted for .

T hi s i s what we read from the report M r .

Wats o n , w h o s a i d that Heads of Dep a r t m e n ts .

.

.

.

.

o f the A ud i tor-Gen eral.


Th�t, i n p ursuance of pa ragraph ( 2 ) o f S t a n d i n g Order Tl, t h e H o n o u ra b l e E n ch e ' A b du l H a m i d K h a n b i n H aj i Sakhawat A l i K ha n b e a ppointed a s c ha i rm a n o f t h e P u b li c Accounts Co m m it t e e .

ADJO URN i\1 EN T M r. Tan Siew Sin: M r .

Speaker, m ay I r i s e o n a p o i n t of order?


I t h i nk t h e H o n ourabl e M e m ber h a s been speak­ i ng o n the m o t i o n and I s uggest t h a t w e k ee p to t h e terms of t h i s m o t i o n. T h e m o t i o n before t h e H o us e i s s i mp l y t h e a p po i n t me n t o f the C h a i r ­ m a n o f t h e P ub li c A ccou n t s C o m m i ttee Resol ved, " T h a t t h i s H ouse d o n ow adj o ur n . "

---(The Prime !1"1inister).

l\1r.


S peaker: Ho n o u r a b l e M e m b ers, d a t e of the n e x t meet i ng wil l be the n otified t o H o n o u rable M e m be rs i n d ue course by t h e C lerk.

_ Adjourned accord ing{_v at ten n z inutes past noon.